Irish Farmers from Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland took to the road in a remarkable show of solidarity in advance of the G8 summit Sunday 16/06/13.

They staged a tractor run from Manorhamilton to the iconic Ballroom of Romance, Glenfarne in Leitrim to shine a light on their opposition to fracking on the national and world stage.

Over 70 tractors and farm vehicles turned out from Sligo, Leitrim and around the North West of Ireland many from across the border in a colourful yet poignant show of North/South solidarity.

There is a temporary suspension of licensing in the republic of Ireland but no such suspension in Fermanagh where world leaders meet. Tamboran the gas company involved in the area have stated that they plan to drill this year within Fermanagh.

Concerns

John Sheridan member of the Ulster farmers Union told the crowd of farmers that the agrifood sector is worth almost 30 billion when you combine North and Southern Ireland and that "fracking knows no borders" The risk to the farming industry was too great from fracking.

Pat Gilhooly Chair of the Leitrim branch of the Irish Farmers Association stated that the IFA had concerns and were making representations to government and government bodies. They would be doing their own field research and travel to effected areas.

Farmer Paul ferguson one of the organisers of the event herds a rear breed of Irish Moile cattle. He stated that he believes that fracking would ruin farming if let in either side of the border.

He summed up saying, "We are just caretakers of the land for the next generation and need to look after it. If fracking is let in it will destroy their future'